It’s hard to believe it’s just been three years since Brandon Lake released his major label debut, “House of Miracles.” In a short time, Lake has become one of Christian music’s most in-demand songwriters. His third studio effort, “Coat of Many Colors,” cements him not only as a prolific lyricist, but also as a bold, courageous artist who isn’t afraid to paint outside the lines.
Unlike 2022’s “HELP!” which focused on mental health, “Coat of Many Colors” isn’t a concept record, but rather a patchwork of experiences, truths and stories that have made Lake the man he is today. Experimenting with a wide spectrum of vibrant hues, the expansive 16-track collection finds the three-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner leaning into a variety of sonic influences to create more of a boundary-pushing CCM pop project than a straightforward modern worship album.
While he borrows powerful symbolism from the biblical story of Joseph for the title-cut and opening track, the pit-to-palace narrative isn’t woven throughout the entire set. Instead, each song offers its own unique shade of worship that, together, forms a beautiful rainbow of words, pictures, sights and sounds.
Lake previewed the album’s namesake on his recent “Summer Worship Nights” tour with Phil Wickham, donning a custom Greg Lauren (nephew of esteemed fashion designer Ralph Lauren) coat crafted from fabrics salvaged from everything from a favorite pair of jeans to his baby blanket and even a piece from his wife’s wedding dress. He wears the same one-of-a-kind fashion accessory on the album cover and in the official music video for the song — a stunning snapshot of redemption with vivid lyrics delivered in Lake’s delicate vocal and set against a backdrop of lush electronic elements.
“Red was the blood that saved me. White was the light that pulled me from the dark. Gold was the crown You placed upon my head that showed me who You are,” Lake sings. “With mercy and grace, I’ve been embraced like no other. I gave You my heart. You gave me a coat of many colors.”
“This coat represents seasons of my life, reminding me of all the amazing things God’s done for me,” Lake explains. “We are all made up of the ‘pits’ and ‘palaces’ we’ve walked through — a beautiful mosaic, a technicolored testimony.”
Like the coat, everything about Lake’s new album is sewn with careful intention, yet stitched with some unexpected detours. Straightaway, the father of three follows the pop-centric “Coat of Many Colors” with an immediate left turn on “Count ‘Em,” another original he’s already been performing live. The fiery track is full of dark, moody production and a spitfire spoken-word delivery, swiftly proving Lake’s music can’t be categorized, nor can it be pegged as anything other than unpredictable. But that’s precisely what makes him so compelling as an artist.
Cascading lead single “Praise You Anywhere” might border on one of the album’s most predictable offerings, but beneath the pop precision of the record-breaking track lies wise lines that probe deeper than most standard worship faire. Meanwhile, the lyrically rich “Tear Off The Roof” borrows intense imagery from two of Scripture’s most memorable stories: the man whose friends lift him through the roof of the house to get to Jesus, and the woman who touches the hem of Jesus’ garment in search of healing. The song’s accompanying visual includes footage from two-time K-LOVE Fan Award-winning Film/TV Impact winner “The Chosen.”
Digging into the South Carolina native’s own story, “Miracle Child” celebrates his parents’ answered prayers, as his mother had six miscarriages before giving birth to Lake and his two siblings. The poetic, faith-elevating song emphasizes God’s track record of making the impossible possible and feeds into the topics that have quickly become something of a hallmark of Lake’s career. Similar themes of experiencing the miraculous surface in other selections like belief-affirming “I Prophesy” and hip-hop-laced “More,” which features Lake’s tourmate and “Gratitude” co-writer Benjamin William Hastings.
The five-time GRAMMY® winner offers another unforeseen turn with “God Is Not Against Me,” a Gospel/R&B-tinged track that showcases the upper reaches of his vocal range with a dash of rare falsetto. Elsewhere, songs like the saccharine “Adoption Song” and the carefree, anthemic “Kids” remind us of our place as children of God.
The surprising closing track acts as Lake’s final plot twist. Following a pair of more vertically oriented praise songs, the consistent collaborator concludes the LP with a bonafide country hit. The reverent, aptly-titled “Country Psalm” is as sweet and pure as they come — a simple, acoustic-driven portrait of family, grace and a life well-lived.
Serving up a satisfying soundtrack that stretches well beyond the hour mark, “Coat of Many Colors” is part memoir, part biblical biography. All at once, the man behind the music moves seamlessly from one genre to the next, melding an eclectic mix of sounds, extending a passionate, gritty vocal and bridging the gap between worship leader and full-fledged artist.
Is their another “Gratitude” lurking among the shadows of the tracklisting that comprises “Coat of Many Colors”? “Adoption Song” and “Miracle Child” might be solid contenders, but time will tell. Despite the challenge of following up a once-in-a-lifetime smash like “Gratitude,” “Coat of Many Colors” makes it clear the multifaceted artist is far from a one-hit wonder and has plenty of surprises up his sleeve.
